Springsteen, WHY Band Together to Benefit Rochester Roots

Rochester, NY � Fans of Bruce Springsteen can see their favorite performer in concert and at the same time, benefit an area charity. Two pairs of General Admission or first tier loge section seats for Springsteen�s concert at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester on March 6, 2008 will be auctioned off online through Charity Folks to benefit the Rochester Roots.

Bruce Springsteen is a founding member of Artists Against Hunger & Poverty, a program of WHY (World Hunger Year), that enlists performing artists to raise awareness and funds for the fight against hunger and poverty.

"WHY continues our working relationship with Bruce Springsteen to support community based organizations in all of the cities on his tour," said Noreen Springstead, Director of Fundraising and Marketing at WHY. "These local charities provide critical services to the millions of people who go hungry in the United States. They are also delivering social services in new and creative ways that engage their participants through community revitalization, job training, and growing and accessing nutritious foods."

Rochester Roots is committed to the creation of urban school and community garden-based educational programs for youth and adults. These programs focus on growing, preparing and enjoying high quality, safe, affordable healthy food. This organization is creating a locally sustainable food system to help low-income people in Rochester obtain nutritious, locally grown food. The School-Community Garden project transforms underutilized schoolyards into urban gardens, and the produce is harvested and distributed to students and community members who worked to grow that food.

WHY is helping thousands of America�s hungry connect to food pantries, soup kitchens, shelter, and government programs in their neighborhoods by providing immediate help via the National Hunger Hotline 1-866-3-HUNGRY. WHY also supports the work of more than 8,750 community-based organizations working on the frontlines to help poor and hungry Americans move out of poverty, more specifically helping them tap their own power to be self-reliant through job training, life skills, urban farming, after school programs, affordable housing, entrepreneurial businesses, and much more. WHY fights hunger and poverty worldwide with grassroots solutions that secure basic rights to food, water, land, jobs, and credit.

To bid on the auction, visit www.charityfolks.com/why. For additional information about Artists Against Hunger and Poverty, please call 212-629-8850, ext. 30. Auction ends March 3, 2008.

 

About WHY

Founded in 1975, WHY (World Hunger Year) is a leader in the fight against hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world. Convinced that solutions to hunger and poverty can be found at the grassroots level, WHY advances long-term solutions to hunger and poverty by supporting community-based organizations that empower individuals and build self-reliance. WHY envisions a world without hunger and poverty to be achieved by shifting prevailing viewpoints on why hunger and poverty exist and by influencing policymakers to put an end to this human tragedy. Bruce Springsteen is a founding member of Artists Against Hunger & Poverty. WHY is a not-for-profit registered 501(c)(3) organization founded by radio talk show host and present Executive Director Bill Ayres, and the late singer-songwriter Harry Chapin. www.whyhunger.org

 

About Rochester Roots

Founded in 1975 as the Politics of Food Program, the food and hunger task force of the Rochester Peace and Justice Education Center. In 1991 we became an independent, not-for-profit with a focus on sustainable food systems. In 2005, we formally changed our name to better reflect our urban roots, our urban agriculture program, and our focus on youth. We advocate for a community that is food secure by improving access to locally grown, seasonal produce that is safe, nutritious and culturally acceptable, and by empowering all people to actively participate in the decision-making process of their food system.